Asa’s goal is proud showing for country

MANILA, Philippines — Fil-Am alpine skier Asa Miller said improving on his past performance is a more realistic goal than striking gold in the Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.

“I don’t think I’m in contention to win gold, but I’m certainly in a position to improve my performance,” said the 21-year-old Miller, the country’s lone bet and one of the very few from Southeast Asia who made the cut to the quadrennial meet.

“But I want to be better, improve on my previous performance and give a proud representation of the Philippines,” he added.

The Portland, Oregon native, whose trip is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission chaired by William Ramirez and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, is eyeing to eclipse his 70th-place finish in the 2018 Pyeongchang Games where he debuted as a 17-year-old.

Miller, like everybody else, is expected to brave the harsh conditions posed by the Ice River as the giant slalom course they will compete at is located at the slope of the Xiaohaituo Mountain.

The landscape was so tough that two-time gold medalist Mikaela Shriffin of the United States was booted out as early as the second round yesterday, quashing her hopes for a third mint.

Miller is also eyeing to improve on the 42nd-place effort by Ben Nanasca in the 1972 Sapporo Games – the best finish ever by a Filipino in the event.

Nanasca and Jun Cipriano were the first Filipinos and Southeast Asians to make it to the Winter Games.

Miller hopes to set a record of his own.